GOLDEN, Colo. — The MSU Denver Roadrunners softball extended its winning streak and finished a dominant weekend sweep Saturday, defeating the Colorado School of Mines Orediggers softball in both ends of the doubleheader to secure a four-game RMAC series sweep.
With the victories, MSU Denver improved to 18-6 overall and 13-3 in RMAC play, pushing its winning streak to eight consecutive games.
Game One: MSU Denver 3, Colorado School of Mines 1
The Roadrunners used a dominant pitching performance to open Saturday's doubleheader with a 3-1 victory.
After both teams traded early chances, MSU Denver broke through in the third inning. Victoria Pearson reached base and eventually scored on a play that resulted from a Colorado School of Mines error, giving the Roadrunners a 1-0 lead.
The Orediggers answered in the fourth inning, capitalizing on an MSU Denver error to even the game at 1-1.
The decisive moment came in the fifth inning. With runners in scoring position, Cheyenne Prieto delivered the turning point of the game, lining a two-RBI single through the right side to score both Pearson and Mackenzie Pearson and give the Roadrunners a 3-1 advantage they would not relinquish.
From there, Natalie Romero took control in the circle. Romero carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and finished the afternoon with a complete-game victory, allowing just two hits and one unearned run while striking out three. The win improved her record to 8-3 on the season.
At the plate, Victoria Pearson reached base three times and scored twice, finishing 1-for-2 with two walks and a stolen base, helping ignite the offense. The victory marked MSU Denver's seventh consecutive win.
Game Two: MSU Denver 9, Colorado School of Mines 6 (10 innings)
Game two turned into a dramatic extra-innings battle, but the Roadrunners erupted late to secure a 9-6 win in 10 innings and complete the series sweep.
Colorado School of Mines struck first in the opening inning, but MSU Denver answered in the third. After Natalie Shellhorn reached base and an error kept the inning alive, Prieto delivered again with a two-RBI single to give the Roadrunners a 3-1 lead.
The Orediggers slowly battled back, tying the game 3-3 in the fifth inning, and the score remained locked through regulation.
MSU Denver regained the lead in the ninth inning when Brooklyn Enny drilled a two-RBI single to push the Roadrunners ahead 5-3. But Mines responded in the bottom half, plating two runs to tie the game and force extras.
The Roadrunners broke the game open in the 10th inning. After a leadoff single from Lexi Gephart and a double by Victoria Pearson, Mackenzie Pearson dropped down a fielder's choice bunt that brought home the go-ahead run. Moments later, Victoria Pearson scored on a wild pitch, extending the lead to 7-5.
Enny delivered the knockout blow soon after, crushing a two-RBI double to give MSU Denver a commanding 9-5 cushion.
Colorado School of Mines added one run in the bottom of the inning, but the Roadrunners held on for the 9-6 victory.
Victoria Pearson sparked the offense with a 3-for-6 performance, scoring three runs and stealing a base. Prieto added another big day at the plate, finishing 1-for-3 with three walks, two RBIs and a run scored, while Enny drove in four RBIs on a 2-for-5 outing.
MSU Denver used a pitching committee in the extra-inning win.
- Kianna Butler started the game, tossing five innings while allowing three runs and striking out three.
- Samantha Mader followed with 3.1 innings in relief, surrendering two runs.
- Brooklyn Levin earned the win after recording the final two outs of the ninth inning, improving to 4-0 on the season.
- Romero returned to close out the 10th inning, allowing one run to seal the victory.
With the pair of wins Saturday, the Roadrunners finished off a four-game sweep of Colorado School of Mines and extended their winning streak to eight games as they continue their strong start to RMAC play.
